2/14/2001
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State University will host the eighth annual Dia de la Mujer Conference from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17, at the Kellogg Center.
The conference is an annual meeting of Chicano/Latino women from Michigan and the Midwest who come together to share information concerning their community.
"It gives Latino women the chance to gather, talk about and learn about issues affecting the Latino community as a whole, whether it be education or health issues," said Marcelina Trevino-Savala, coordinator of MSU Chicano/Latino Student Affairs. "We can really learn a lot from each other."
The theme of this year's conference is "Encadenando Nuestras Generaciones: Linking Our Generations."
Registration runs from 7:45 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., and the event begins at 8:30 a.m. with opening remarks and a keynote address from Caridad De La Luz, a poet and performer from the Bronx. Elena Avila, a registered nurse and curandera (healer) from Hawaii with a master of science and nursing degree, will also lecture.
Various other activities include participants' choice of three workshops addressing a variety of subjects from culture to self-improvement.
Organizers also will present the Maria Zavala Award, which honors a woman who has consistently and unselfishly contributed to the Chicano/Latino community. Zavala helped found the Dia de la Mujer Conference.
Trevino-Savala said the conference has experienced enormous growth over the past eight years, from 100 participants in its initial year to more than 1,000 at this year's event.
"We have received really positive feedback over the years from women who have attended and from sponsors because it is such a unique event," she said.
For registration and other information, visit the Web site at www.msu.edu/unit/omsa/
Dia de la Mujer Conference Schedule
7:45 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Registration
8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Opening and keynote address by speaker Caridad De La Luz, a poet and performer from the Bronx
9:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Break
9:45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Workshop
11:00 a.m. - 11:10 a.m.
Break
11:10 a.m. - 12:25 p.m.
Workshop
12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Lunch, presentation of Zavala Award and keynote address by speaker Elena Avila, a registered nurse and curandera (healer) with a master of science and nursing degree
2:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Break
2:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Workshop
3:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Break
3:45 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Closing